True2marie

As everyone is saying, the main way to regain fluency in a language is to speak it. You have to find someone to speak in Spanish with on a daily basis. This process allows you to practice in real-life with another human being.

Excellent comments. I definitely was not trying to insult my friend or anyone by using a Spanish accent. When I began learning Spanish years ago, I distinctly remember a teacher 'calling out' a student for NOT using an accent. He had a Cali-twang and he was butchering the Spanish language with it.

So, what I gather is that most of us speak, but don't write much in our second language. Okay. I feel a bit better. Some individuals are so gifted in the area of language that they seem to be able to do it all - and - all so well.

My father was in the military. As a result, I lived in the Philippines for a few years. This experience taught me a lot about how different cultures view the world.

In recent times, through work, I have had to write in my second language (Spanish). What I realized through this process is that I had gotten 'rusty'. I am usually only called upon to speak in a second language, but not pen anything.

One of my Spanish-speaking neighbors recently told me he gets offended when someone (non-native speaker) uses his language and over emphasizes a Spanish accent. He felt they were making fun of or stressing a stereotype about Latinos. I could sort of see his point, but I also believe that without any accent, speaking another language sounds flat and is even more of an insult.

I read an interesting NY Times article recently about a 1940s chemical engineer (Benjamin Whorf) who believed a person's mother tongue restricted (or expanded) his or her ability to think certain thoughts. His theory was featured in a magazine under the title of "Science and Linguistics". His theory was dismissed after a while because it lacked any support. What do you think? Article I read: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/magazine/29language-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

According to CNN, being a a college grad who speaks a foreign language is a big deal. The job of translating is a growing career. So, speaking a language in the U.S. other than English is a plus for job seekers. See report: http://money.cnn.com/2013/10/30/news/economy/job-skills-foreign-language/

Seville009, The funniest story I remember while 'passing' is getting a haircut by a beautician who talked about me to other customers in Spanish. She explained to them how my hair was a mess when I came to her (and it was) and how she made my hair look so much better. The entire time I sat quietly taking in her every word.

A telenovela I would recommend for anyone newly learning Spanish is Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish. Visit link: http://www.learner.org/resources/series75.html I don't believe this telenovela is on TV anymore. PBS.org and other learning channels used to run it for their followers. However, it is both engaging and educational.

You should visit Annenberg Learner. Link: http://www.learner.org/resources/series75.html At this site, they have a video called "Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish". It's a telenovela and helps viewers acquire Spanish in a fun and easy manner.

In order to speak Spanish well, you should take a course and also be around people native to the language. This process allows you to obtain a full view of this language. A course provides you with the technical aspects including how to read and write in Spanish. Spanish-speaking people help you understand slang terms and get into the rhythm of daily discourse.

I recently discovered an online Spanish test at Spanish-test.net? http://www.spanish-test.net/ What I like about this Website is that different Latino countries are listed on the appendages with links on where to go to learn their specific type of Spanish. Also, the test is simple and quick to do.

Yes. It all depends on your mindset. Consider all of the people who immigrant to America later in life with their family. They have to learn English, a brand new culture and obtain a job. Youth definitely gives children an edge, but hard work evens the scale for adults.

Yes, I was inspired by several teachers to learn Spanish. The one I remember best is Ms. Anguera. She made me feel smart, able and special. I know she's retired now, but this woman was a wonderful teacher.

I am laughing. This video wasn't the best, but horrible? I wouldn't describe it as that. I get the point - learning another language is a good idea and for so many reasons. Next time, the person who created the video probably just needs to use a better camera and audio, but at least the results didn't remind me of something gotten via a crappy cell phone camera.

It's much better to mix a visual (example) with a term. I have been helping a neighbor from Iran learn English in this manner. Whenever I teach him a new word like 'blanket', I pick up the item in my home so he knows what I mean.

I am a mix of an auditory and reading/writing learner. What I do when I am trying learn anything is write down the information multiple times and read it back to myself. For some reason, this process is very effective.

I learned from neighbor who immigrated recently to America that she believes native English speakers talk too fast and are somewhat rude. She also told me that the air 'stunk' in America. It took her 30 days to get used to the smell.

I would like to see Korean. K-Pop and Korean culture is exploding in the U.S. I would definitely like to hear more about this language and maybe even take a stab at learning it. http://www.allkpop.com/#axzz2lv91y6hF

The idea of learning a new language through music sounds fun, but I don't see how it would work. You would only grow to the level of the artist you listen too. And let's face facts, some of the music out to day is just a string of 'slang' or words best not spoken on a regular basis.

I don't care about learning the origin of a new language. The truth - I don't care about learning the origin of my native language. (LOL) I mainly am concerned with speaking the language of my choice with proficiency.

Being able to speak Spanish helped me make friends while living in Puerto Rico. I also think that being bi-lingual in general opens up your mind to accept different cultures. I have a neighbor now who just moved to the U.S. from Iran. Would I be as open to being friends with this individual if I hadn't traveled, learned another language and been exposed to other cultures? I don't know.

Pass is an old school term that refers to a person's ability to pretend to be another nationality without being detected by others. When I lived in Puerto Rico, people thought I was either a black Puerto Rican or possibly from St. Croix. Unless I spoke English and identified myself as being from the mainland, they had no clue.

My native language is English. In it, I say, "Happy Thanksgiving". My second language is Spanish. In it, I say, "Gracias Feliz". Another possibility to say happy thanksgiving in Spanish is this here: What about you?